A petition has been created calling for an Old Bailey judge to be sacked because she handed out too "soft" a sentence to a teenager behind a terrifying zombie knife attack in Croydon. Joshua Gardner, of London Road in Thornton Heath, was spared jail yesterday (Tuesday, November 27) despite wielding the huge weapon in broad daylight on a busy Croydon street and attacking a car as the petrified driver sat inside.

The horrifying attack, which happed on May 30 on London Road, was witnessed by several members of the public, and Gardner's outburst of violence was caught on the dash-cam of a vehicle that was travelling in the opposite direction. The shocking video went viral on social media.

The 18-year-old, who was 17 at the time, was found guilty of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent in relation to the incident, at the Old Bailey last Wednesday (November 21). He had previously pleaded guilty to affray and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

The "lenient" sentence has provoked outrage among members of the public who have questioned how it can possibly act as a deterrent to stop other teenagers carrying knives.

A petition has now been launched by an anti-knife group calling for Judge Dhir to be sacked.

The petition says: "This judge is not fit after giving a knife carrier a two-year suspended sentence. [This is] despite [him] having robbed somebody in the past with a knfe."

At the time of writing it had been signed by more than 60 people, and been widely shared on social media.

Dash cam footage.

Judge Dhir was appointed as a judge at the Old Bailey in 2017, and in doing so became the first non-white circuit judge to sit at the court.

Before that, she was appointed as a circuit judge in 2012 and a recorder in 2010. In 2018, she was authorised to sit in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.

The judge was called to the Bar in 1989, and practised as a barrister for 23 years, mainly in criminal law. From 2007 she practised as a special advocate in national security cases.

'The public have been royally screwed'

The sentencing caused a fair bit of fury on social media, and Twitter users criticised the judge for not jailing Gardner.

John Fisher said: "This ‘sentence’ by Judge Anuja Dhir is unduly lenient and only serves to weaken public confidence in the whole judicial process. The judge should be struck off."

Keith Anorak said: "It's even ironic that the curfew doesn't cover the period of the day that this offence took place. Isn't that what this judge was supposed to be taking into consideration? The public have been royally screwed over by Judge Anuja Dhir. We are not safe with people like her."

Khayer Chowdhury, a Labour councillor, said: "Lots of gang members are taking note of Judge Anuja Dhir's decision today. If they try and attack someone with a 20-inch machete, they won't go to prison."

Preeti Virdee added: "So you can acquire a zombie knife, kick someone's car in, smash their window, attempt to take their head off with knife and don't worry, Judge Anuja Dhir QC will let you off with a slap on the wrist and won't throw you in prison."

And Twitter user @Piercin66237217 said: "Judge Anuja Dhir QC should be suspended and investigated for handing out such a pathetic sentence."